NOVEL NEXT Chapter 368 - 368: Do You Want To Rebel?
Chapter 368: Do You Want To Rebel?
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
However, she knew the main component of this poison: the Dream Fairy Herb. Doesn’t the name sound pleasant?
But just a whiff of it could make you sleep for three days and nights. A taste of its petals could put you to sleep for ten days, keeping you in a constant state of sweet dreams.
If a person doesn’t eat or drink for seven days, they will die of dehydration, but without any apparent suffering; their expression still portrays enjoyment.
“How many days has she been sleeping?”
“Th-three days.’
She must have owed the Wang family. Qiao Mai took a jade bottle from her bosom and shoved two pills into Jiaru’s mouth.
Even though she was in a dream, she knew to swallow the things in her mouth.
Qiao Mai continued to hold her pulse, quietly sitting. Before long, the Old Prince and Consort arrived with the others.
Seeing Qiao Mai, they were shocked. How did she enter the mansion? “Madam Qiao, you’re here. Why didn’t you announce yourself?”
“Jiaru is in this condition. Why didn’t you send someone to inform Lucky Garden?”
“We… we didn’t expect it. She loves sleeping. We called the imperial physician. He said her health is fine.’
“Is it normal for a person to sleep three days?”
While Old Master and Mistress Wang might not dare to offend Prince Shunqin, Qiao Mai did. She glared at the Old Prince and Consort.
The young prince quickly stepped forward and saluted, “We apologize. This is my negligence. It has nothing to do with my parents.”
“Humph, if I hadn’t arrived in time, my younger sister would have lost her life.
You must give me an explanation today, or none of you will have an easy time.”
“Madam Qiao, we understand your concern for your sister, but such matters should not be handled like this. Please don’t force people.”
Qiao Mai waved her sleeve, and the main gate of the prince’s mansion closed immediately, enveloping the area in a barrier.
“So what if I do?”
“You…”
“Gather all the servants, consorts, and everyone in your mansion here. I will question each one of them.”
“Madam Qiao, aren’t you going too far?”
“My sister is not just sleeping; she is poisoned. The imperial physicians couldn’t detect it. Others might not see it either.”
“What? She’s poisoned?”
“Humph, there are countless poisons in this world. Quickly, send someone to fetch help.”
Old Master and Mistress Wang quietly came behind Qiao Mai. Prince Shunqin’s family was angry, but at the same time, they felt that Qiao Mai was not entirely unreasonable. However, given their status, no one dared to treat their family this way except for the emperor.
Even if the Qiao family is favored, they shouldn’t act like they can overthrow the authority. They endured it since their family was the apple in the emperor’s eyes.
With a firm resolve, they ordered all the people to gather.
There were hundreds of people – Qiao Mai arranged tables in the courtyard and asked everyone to sit and wait.
“Guards outside, keep watch. Bring the concubines, servants, kitchen staff, and those in the courtyard here. Let the rest wait outside.”
“Who is managing your mansion’s affairs now?”
“In recent years, it has mainly been Consort Yu helping to manage the mansion.”
“Then let’s start with Consort Yu.”
Qiao Mai remained stern-faced as the steward of Prince Shunqin’s mansion, following the registry, began counting.
She asked each person to come forward. Placing her hand on their heads, she spent a moment.
Others didn’t know, but Old Master and Mistress Wang knew – this method was extraordinary. If the court had such methods, no criminals would escape.
This world would have no wrongful convictions, false cases, or fake cases. It was impressive!
Qiao Mai patiently examined each person’s soul. As she suspected, some people planned to harm Jiaru to replace her.
Every action needs a motive. Consort Yu’s desire to become the princess consort was the reason. All the maids and servants around her were implicated.
With the memories of these few people, the others became easier to handle.
Without probing their souls, Qiao Mai spoke a series of names, “Kitchen Maid Zhao, Maid Zhou, the courtyard’s Du Juan, Xi Que, stay. Consort Yu and those around her, stay. The rest can leave.”
The servants were terrified. Their masters’ faces became even more unpleasant than before. They fled faster than rabbits.
The courtyard suddenly became quiet. Consort Yu twisted her handkerchief.
“In this cold weather, what are you doing? Madam Qiao, although you are the princess consort’s elder sister, your authority should not extend too far. Should you manage the affairs of Prince Shunqin’s mansion?”
Qiao Mai slapped her across the face from a distance of five or six meters.
“Not only can I manage the affairs of Prince Shunqin’s mansion, but I can also manage the palace.”
“Do you want to rebel? You want to manage the palace?”
Old Prince Shunqin frowned, “Madam Qiao, what are you treating us as?”
With Qiao Mai backing her up, Old Master Wang sneered. “What? My granddaughter is almost killed in your house, yet you don’t want to find out the truth?”
“This house is ours. If you want to investigate, we’ll do it.”
“My granddaughter is poisoned, but none of you knew. How could you investigate?”
Old Prince Shunqin was speechless. The Old Consort sighed, “Madam Qiao, investigate if you must, but don’t wrong the innocent. Consort Yu’s family is from the Ministry of Revenue.”
After a gentle reminder of their identity, she fell silent. They didn’t say anything, indicating their tacit approval of Qiao Mai’s leadership.
Qiao Mai looked at Consort Yu and the others, saying indifferently, “Kneel.”
These two words seemed to have a magical effect, forcing Consort Yu and the others to kneel. They couldn’t believe it.
“I have already sent a message to Zihan and the emperor. They should be coming to witness this. Otherwise, with one and another excuse from you, I can’t explain it to you individually.”
At this moment, there was movement inside the room. Two maids supported Jiaru as she walked out.
Old Mistress Wang’s eyes turned red when she saw her. She went up and hugged her, crying.
“Ru’er, how are you?”
“Grandmother, why are you here?”
“If I didn’t come, you would have died. You fool, do you know you’ve been poisoned?” “So… That’s why I’ve been sleeping so much?”
“Yes.”
“What are you guys doing?”
“Girl, your body is weak. Go back to the room first. You don’t need to worry about what’s happening here. I’ll talk to you later.”
Old Mistress Wang helped her back to the room, and everyone patiently waited. An hour later, the emperor, empress, the Crown Prince, and Zihan arrived.
Qiao Mai sat at the top, and they sat below as spectators, watching Consort Yu on the ground, still angry.
Qiao Mai waved her hand, and an image appeared in mid-air.
Prince Shunqin’s family was shocked. At this moment, they understood why Qiao Mai was so arrogant and why the emperor had a close relationship with her family.
They understood why the Qiao family had reached today’s position from a farmer’s family. Just this one skill made them acknowledge her.
The ones who had witnessed this scene were focused, while those who hadn’t realized it yet hurriedly looked at the images.
Consort Yu and the others were dumbfounded. What was happening? Their actions and words had all turned into images.
Qiao Mai leisurely started eating a fruit.
While waiting for everyone to arrive, Qiao Mai patiently linked all the scenes together. How Consort Yu had bribed the kitchen, then the maids around Jiaru, and how they planned to poison her — everything was exposed.
After watching, the emperor looked at Prince Shunqin’s family, who still hadn’t recovered from the shock.
“That poison is hidden in her room’s secret compartment. Send someone to fetch it and make her swallow it. An eye for an eye.”
“Brother, it’s my fault for not disciplining her.”
“Everyone has ambitions. We all came from that time. When there are too
many women in the backyard, things get chaotic. It’s better to have fewer women.”
The emperor looked at Qiao Mai, who had a cold face, “In-law, what do you think of how I’m handling this?”
“Handle Consort Yu as you said.. As for the others, kill them!”